INTHEBLACK Mental Health 2021 - Magazine - Page 3
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COUNTING ON U
D E A K I N U N I V E R S I T Y ’ S S P E C I A L I S E D M E N TA L H E A LT H F I R S T A I D ( M H FA ) C O U R S E , C O U N T I N G
O N U , B E G A N I N F E B R U A R Y T H I S Y E A R . T H E C O U R S E R E C O G N I S E S T H E G R E AT E R R O L E T H AT
A C C O U N TA N T S A N D B U S I N E S S A D V I S E R S N O W P L AY I N T H E M E N TA L H E A LT H O F T H E I R C L I E N T S .
CLICK HERE
TO REGISTER
for the Counting
on U program
Throughout the pandemic, accountants have played
a frontline role, helping individuals and businesses
manage the effects of an economic downturn, and the
federal and state governments have relied heavily on
the profession to ensure support measures reached
thousands of business owners.
A key insight from Deakin University’s early research
for the project is that accountants and other business
finance professionals have found themselves unsure
about what to say to small business owners who are
struggling to cope, especially those facing financial
pressure.
“People are more likely to seek help for their
financial problems rather than their mental health
problems,” says Professor Andrew Noblet of Deakin
Business School.
“This preference for reaching out to business advisers
then puts them in the unique situation where they can
simultaneously provide the technical advice required
to help alleviate the financial pressures, and also,
throughout the MHFA training, encourage their clients
to seek help for mental health issues.
“We also know that when the help-seeking
encouragement is provided by a trusted business
adviser, such as an accountant, a financial planner or
a bookkeeper who knows the business and the business
owner very well, this is more likely to lead to the
owner-manager actually reaching out to mental health
professionals.”
The Counting on U program is supported and funded
by the Federal Department of Industry, Science, Energy
and Resources, the National Health and Medical
Research Council of Australia, Beyond Blue, Mental
Health First Aid Australia and WorkSafe Victoria, and is
open to CPA Australia members who provide advice to
small and medium business clients.
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